Pruning implement



Oct. 2, 1951 G. GUSTAFSON PRUNING IMPLEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1948 Gustaf Gusfafson BY g Oct. 2, 1951 e. GUSTAFSON 2,559,888

PRUNING IMPLEMENT Filed April 26, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q Q In .9 In a Gustaf Gus/afson INVENTOR.

Fly 8 Patented Oct. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRUNING IMPLEMENT Gustaf Gustafson, Yakima, Wash. Application April 28,1948, Serial No. 23,297

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an improved pruning implement of thetype embodying a pole having a fixed hook-shaped blade secured to its upper end, a movable blad pivoted to and coactin with said hook-shaped blade, an operating sleeve slidably fitted on the lower portion of said pole, a lever mounted on and extending across the pole intermediate the blades and the operating sleeve, a first link connecting the movable blade to said lever intermediate the ends of the latter, and a second link connecting the other end of said lever to the operating sleeve.

.The primary object of the present invention is to provide an efiicient pruning implement of simple and durable construction and which is constructed entirely of metal and capable of being readily and economically manufactured.

A further object is to provide an implement of the above kind wherein a powerful leverage is aflorded so that the limbs of trees or the like may be severed with the expenditure of a minimum amount of physical exertion on the part of the operator.

Another object is to provide an implement of the above kind in which a link connects an end of the lever to a bracket secured on the pole, so as to permit the pivotal connection between the first link and said lever to move in a straight path parallel with the pole.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an implement of the above kind wherein the lever has an end portion in the form of a yoke loosely embracing the pole so that the latter need not be weakened by slotting the same for passage of the lever therethrough.

The exact nature of the present invention, as well as other objects and features thereof, will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of a pruning element constructed in accordance with the present invention, the movable blade being positioned with its cutting edge removed from the cutting edge of the hook-shaped blade;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the outer end portion of the implement shown in Figure 1, with the movable blade in the position assumed thereby at the completion of a pruning operation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 1, showing a modification;

Figure 6 is a view somewhat similar to Figure '2 of the upper portion of the implement shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section taken on line 8--8 of Figure 7.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present pruning implement includes an elongated tubular metallic pole 5 having a flattened upper end 6 within which'is snugly fitted the shank of a hookshaped fixed blade I provided with the usual concaved cutting edge at 8, the shank of said blade being secured in the flattened end 6 by a transverse rivet or screw 9. The usual movable blade I0 is pivoted at I I to the blade I and coacts with the latter for severing limbs over which the blade I is engaged. I

An operating sleeve I2 is slidably fitted on the lower portion of the pole 5 and is operatively connected to the movable blade I0 by means of a lever I3 pivoted intermediate its ends on the pole 5 and extending across the pole 5 intermediate the blades 1 and I 0 and the operating sleeve I2, a first link I4 or I4 connecting the movable blade I0 to the lever l3 intermediate the ends of the latter, and a second link I5 connecting the outer or free end of lever I3 to the operating sleeve I2. The lever I3 has an inner end portion in the form of a yoke I6 which loosely embraces the pole 5, and said lever I3 is mounted on the pole by means of a bracket I1 fixed on and projecting laterally from the pole 5, and a link I8 connecting the projecting part of the bracket IT to the yoke end of lever I3. The link I8 is pivoted to swing laterally so that the piv-- otal connection between link I4 and lever I3 may move in a straight line parallel with the pole 5. Bracket I1 is preferably in the form of a centrally folded sheet metal member having its intermediate portion shaped to snugly embrace the pole and secured on the latter by welding or the like, the end portions of the bracket having an end of the link I8 pivoted therebetween, as at I9. The link I4 or I4 includes a rod having a U-shaped member 20 centrally fixed to one end thereof, said member 20 being loosely fitted between and pivoted to the sides of the yoke portion It of lever I 3, as at 2|. By reason of this operating connection between the movable blade I0 and the operating sleeve I2, a powerful leverage is afiorded so that the limbs of trees or the like may be severed with the expenditure of a .minimum amount of physical exertion on the part of the operator. Also, the pole 5 is not afforded by a transverse pin carried by the part 20 and extending through narrow longitudinal elongated slots 24 provided in opposite sides of the pole 5. Thus, the part 20 is slidably guided in the pole 5 so that the pivotal connection between the link I4 and lever I3 is forced to move in a rectilinear direction parallel with the pole. This provides a very compact, durable and efiicient construction.

A slightly less eflicient and compact, although satisfactory construction is provided in the form of Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, wherein the link I4 is located wholly outside the pole 5. In the latter embodiment, the link I4 is straight, and the part is disposed with respect to the length of lever I3 so that it will contact the pole 5 at the opposite limits of movement of the lever I3 and can slide on said pole 5 in a straight path as permitted by the link I8.

Where the pole 5 is slotted, as at 24, the same is reinforced by means of a sleeve fitted over 1 and 5, or a spring may be provided for that purpose, as is generally well known in the art.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the present invention will be readily under stood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Further modifications and changes in details of construction are contemplated such as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A pruning implement comprising a pole, a hook-shaped fixed blade secured to the upper end of said pole, a movable blade pivoted to and coacting with said hook-shaped blade, an operating sleeve slidably fitted on the lower portion of said pole, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the pole and extending across the pole intermediate the blades and the operating sleeve, said lever having an'end portion in the form of a yoke loosely embracing the pole, a bracket carried by the pole below the lever, a link connecting the bracket to the yoke end of the lever, a second link connecting the movable blade to said lever intermediate the ends of the latter, and a third link connecting the other end of said lever to I the operating sleeve, the said pole being tubular and secured on the pole 5, as well as provided with slots at 24 corresponding to the similar slots provided in the pole 5. The pivotal connection between the link I8 and lever I3 is indicated at 261 In use, the operator takes hold of the lower end of the pole 5 with one hand and takes hold of the operating sleeve [2 with the other hand, whereby to direct the hooked blade I to engage it over a limb or branch of a tree or the like that is to be severed. When this is done, the movable blade I0 is of course in the position of Figures 1. and 5 wherein its edge is moved away from the edge 8 of the fixed blade I. The sleeve I2 is then slid downwardly so as to rock the lever I3 downwardly and swing the blade I0 to the position of Figures 2 and 6. The latter operation causes the convex cutting edge of blade II). to impinge upon the branch or limb and sever it. By sliding the sleeve I2 upwardly, the movable blade maybe returned to the position of Figures and having a longitudinal slot near its upper end, said second link being ofiset laterally and extended into the pole through said slot and then through the pole to said lever, the pivotalconnection between the second link and the lever including a member fitted in and guided by the pole and a pivot member carried by the last named member and having the yoke of the lever pivotally engaged with its ends, said pole further having longitudinal slots in opposite sides thereof through which the ends of said pivot member extend and in which the ends ofsaid pivot member are movable longitudinally of the pole.

GUSTAF GUSTAFSQN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 945,677 Bastian Jan. 4, 1910 1,025,626 Higley May '7, 1912 1,082,290 Spencer Dec. 23, 1913 2,075,341 Goodman Mar. 30, '1937 

